Ohio County Honor Guard provides final tribute to vets

In 2003, four Ohio County Veterans gathered to discuss the need for an Honor Guard in the county to perform military honors at the funerals of the county’s veterans.

It was at that meeting that the PFC Wesley Phelps Memorial Honor Guard was born.

The guard is named in honor of Phelps, a 1942 graduate of Horse Branch High School, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Peleliu Island in 1944 as a U.S. Marine in World War II.

On the night of Oct. 4, 1944, Phelps and fellow Marine were in a foxhole when a Japanese grenade landed between them. Reports of the incident state that Phelps shouted and “unhesitatingly” rolled over on the grenade taking the full force of the explosion with his body. Phelps was killed while PFC Richard Shipley received a small scratch.

The honor guard has 16 active members who dedicate their time to serving at funerals throughout the area. They have performed more than 900 military honor funerals since the group’s creation. The guard performs military honors in 8-12 different counties and has gone as far as Jefferson County. Last year they took part in 60 funerals and the year prior they did 75.

Honor Guard member Ray Morrison said the group will go wherever they are requested.

“Many other places specifically request us to perform funerals,” Morrison said.

During funeral ceremonies, they hold a 21 gun salute, play Taps and fold and present the flag.

The guard’s primary purpose is to provide funeral honors for fallen comrades, but their work goes beyond that. They also serve as the color guard at parades and present the colors at Veterans Day and other veteran ceremonies. They also visit Ohio County veterans in nursing facilities during the holidays.

For members Morrison and J.T. Taylor, the brotherhood and dedication of others involved with Honor Guard was the inspiration for them to become a part.

“I did some funerals when I was on active duty,” Morrison said. “Veterans groups are kind of a brotherhood really ... and once you do your first funeral you just want to continue because it means so much to the families.”

“The previous members were so dedicated to what they were doing ... I saw their dedication. I was just green but I admired their dedication and I learned from them,” said J.T. Taylor